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Pedestrian fatalities are a tragedy. The accompanying tragedy is that most are preventable. However, it is difficult to find information about the exact times that pedestrians are most likely to have fatal traffic accidents. Most people think it’s midnight when they are speeding down the road at 120 miles per hour, but that is not the case. Apparently, most pedestrian fatalities occur between 7 AM and 9 AM.
What are pedestrian fatalities?
As you’re probably aware, pedestrian fatalities are a real problem in this country. Specifically, people are being killed crossing the street at the wrong time of day. The victims are usually on their way home or to work, and some are even children. Every pedestrian fatality is so tragic, but even more so are the victims’ families.
“Pedestrian fatalities” is a topic that is usually avoided by those who work in the field of law and crime. As a result, the media and even the general public don’t always understand what these events, and their causes, actually mean. Pedestrian fatalities are no longer just a city or state problem. They are now a national issue. The increasing number of people who are struck by cars while walking has become a concern for everyone, including parents, who worry about their children crossing the streets.
What causes pedestrian fatalities?
When it comes to pedestrian fatalities, both drivers and pedestrians share responsibility equally. The numbers suggest that pedestrians are dying at higher rates than drivers, but what is causing this? According to statistics, drivers are responsible for 80-90% of pedestrian fatalities. But if you take a closer look at the facts to learn more, you’ll realize that pedestrian fatalities are not distributed evenly. There are a few factors that contribute to them:
Going over the posted speed limit
The issue of pedestrian deaths is a complicated one. The average American will walk about 10,000 miles in their lifetime. Yet despite that, an estimated 1.1 pedestrians are killed every hour in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The problem is compounded by the fact that no two pedestrians are alike. The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has a website that provides a running count of pedestrian deaths. This site is a wonderful tool that allows us to see a trend in pedestrian fatalities over time. It also allows us to see the role that speeding plays in these deaths. The number of pedestrian fatalities that occur in a year varies from year to year. Still, there has been a consistent trend in the number of pedestrian fatalities over time, and over the past 10 years, the number of people killed in traffic crashes has decreased. It is important to know that a pedestrian has the right of way over a car.
Distracted driving
Distracted Driving is the leading cause of car accidents, and it’s a problem that’s getting worse. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 30,092 people were killed in crashes involving distracted drivers in 2017. That’s up 3,500 over the previous year and 117% higher than 2011. Distracted Driving is a pervasive problem in America and one that can have devastating consequences. Drivers who text, use a cell phone, or partake in other prohibited activities while behind the wheel are a danger to themselves and others and can be subject to serious legal consequences.
Driving while intoxicated
Driving under the influence (DUI) is a serious problem not only in the United States but also worldwide. In the United States, there are close to 15 million people who have been arrested for DUI. Drunk Driving doesn’t only kill people. It also destroys their lives. It destroys their ability to enjoy any kind of lifestyle; it destroys their ability to work; it destroys their families. It destroys their dignity.
Pedestrians are dying on our streets. Recently, more than 6,000 people died on our streets in the United States, according to the FARS (fatality analysis reporting system) database. With the average pedestrian dying at the hands of another person every 2 hours, it is clear that our streets are not safe. It is vital that we work together to prevent these tragedies from occurring. It’s difficult to believe that someone could intentionally run into someone else, but you can change that. Even if the pedestrian was not trying to hit the pedestrian completely, it is still possible to avoid pedestrian fatalities.
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